Frozen (1997 film)

Frozen
Fox Lorber DVD cover
Directed by	Wang Xiaoshuai
Written by	Pang Ming Wang Xiaoshuai
Starring	Jia Hongsheng Ma Xiaoqing
Cinematography	Yang Shu
Edited by	Qing Qing
Distributed by	United States: International Film Circuit, Inc. U.S. DVD: Fox Lorber
Release date	Netherlands: October 23, 1997 United States (DVD): February 22, 2000
Running time	95 minutes
Country	China
Language	Mandarin

Frozen (Chinese: 极度寒冷; pinyin: Jídù hánlĕng) is a 1997 Chinese film directed by Wang Xiaoshuai. The film was originally shot in 1994, but was banned by Chinese authorities and had to be smuggled out of the country. Moreover, Wang was operating under a blacklisting from the Chinese Film Bureau that was imposed after his previous film, The Days, was screened internationally without government approval. As such, Wang was forced to use the pseudonym "Wu Ming" (literally "Anonymous") while making this film.

The film, supposedly based on a true story, follows a young performance artist, Qi Lei, who attempts to create a masterpiece centred on the theme of death. After two "acts" where he simulates death, he decides that his final act will be a true suicide through hypothermia.

Frozen was originally entitled The Great Game (simplified Chinese: 伟大游戏; traditional Chinese: 伟大游戲; pinyin: Dà yóuxi). This was meant to reflect the attitude of both the film and the artist portrayed within it to treat death and suicide as a game or a manipulation.

Like Wang's first film, The Days, Frozen was cast primarily with friends of Wang Xiaoshuai. Unlike in his earlier film, the two leads of Frozen were professional actors who would become major figures in the sixth generation movement. Actor Jia Hongsheng was selected to play Qi Lei, a performance artist who decides to make his own death his final work. Jia would go on to star in other sixth generation films, notably with director Lou Ye in Weekend Lover (1994) and Suzhou River (2000). Wang selected Jia in part because he was unconventional looking and in Wang's words, Jia "does not look like an actor." But because Jia was Wang's friend, he did not demand payment, thus allowing the film to operate on a smaller budget.